There are now 59 operators committed to LTE network deployments in 28 countries, according to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) in the latest update of its Evolution to LTE report. This compares to 39 network commitments in 19 countries reported by GSA in a similar study published six months ago. The report lists all network commitments and each deployment status. The industry group forecasts that up to 22 LTE networks will have entered commercial service by end-2010, and 37 LTE networks will be commercially launched by end-2012. The first two commercial LTE networks were launched in December 2009 in Sweden and Norway. The report also references 16 additional operators currently engaged in technology tests or trials of LTE, from which additional commitments to deploy are expected to follow. Updates are included in the report on LTE device certification, interoperability testing, Voice over LTE, and regulatory developments, including progress on new spectrum allocations.

 source:telecompaper